Solar panels in Barrington, IL
See what solar could save your Barrington home with the ComEd solar rebate, Illinois Shines incentives and $0-down options. Free, no-obligation quotes from installers serving Cook County.
Free, no-obligation quotes. Savings vary by home and utility. $0-down offers are leases or PPAs and are subject to approval.
Quick answer
Is solar worth it in Barrington, IL?
For many homes, yes. With a $150 monthly bill, we estimate a 8.0 kW system costs about $10,900 after the ComEd rebate and Illinois Shines and pays for itself in about 8.5 years. Panels in Barrington produce roughly 1,190 kWh per kW each year on an unshaded, south-facing roof.
How much does solar cost and save in Barrington?
- Electric utility
- ComEd
- County
- Cook County
- Population (2020)
- about 11,000
- Solar output per kW
- ~1,190 kWh/year
- System for a $150/mo bill
- ~8.0 kW (20 panels)
- Est. utility rebate
- $2,400
- Est. Illinois Shines value
- $11,500
- Est. net cost / payback
- $10,900 / ~8.5 yrs
Estimates for a cash purchase on an unshaded, south-facing roof with a $150 monthly bill. Your roof and rate plan will change the numbers. How we estimate
What would a solar estimate look like for a Barrington home?
Estimates for Barrington homes at four common bill sizes. Bigger bills need bigger systems that cost more up front, but payback stays about the same, because the ComEd rebate and Illinois Shines grow with system size too. Systems over 10 kW get somewhat different Illinois Shines prices, so treat the largest size as a rough guide.
| Monthly bill | System size | Panels | Roof space | Cost after incentives | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100/mo | 5.2 kW | 13 | ~270 sq ft | $7,000 | 8.4 yrs |
| $150/mo | 8.0 kW | 20 | ~420 sq ft | $10,900 | 8.5 yrs |
| $200/mo | 10.8 kW | 27 | ~570 sq ft | $14,700 | 8.5 yrs |
| $300/mo | 16.8 kW | 42 | ~880 sq ft | $22,900 | 8.5 yrs |
How does solar work with ComEd in Barrington?
Barrington has older homes near its historic downtown and larger, wooded lots farther out, so tree shade and room for a ground mount are often the first things an installer checks.
Most homes in Barrington get their electricity from Commonwealth Edison (ComEd). That matters for solar, because your utility sets how you're credited for the power your panels send back to the grid and pays the state-required solar rebate.
For systems connected since 2025, ComEd credits exported power at the supply rate, so the best Barrington systems are sized to cover what your home uses during the day. In exchange, ComEd pays about $300 per kW up front for systems with a smart inverter. See the full ComEd solar guide.
Is your Barrington home a good fit?
- You own the home. Rooftop solar requires owning the roof.
- Your roof gets sun for most of the day on its south, west or east side, without heavy tree shade.
- Your roof has some life left. Replacing worn shingles before installing saves a removal fee later.
- Your ComEd bill is regularly over about $100 a month, or you're adding an EV or heat pump.
Not sure? A specialist can check satellite imagery of your Barrington roof as part of your free quote.
What permits and paperwork does solar need in Barrington?
- 1
Building and electrical permits
Your installer applies to the City of Barrington for the building and electrical permits, and a local inspector checks the finished work.
- 2
Illinois Shines application
Your installer registers the system with Illinois Shines, and you review and sign the program's disclosure form before installation.
- 3
ComEd interconnection and rebate
ComEd approves the connection, updates your meter and grants permission to operate; then your installer files for the $300/kW rebate.
- 4
Property tax form
File form PTAX-330 with the Cook County Assessor's Office so the system doesn't raise your assessment. See how Illinois taxes homes with solar.
In a neighborhood with a homeowners' or condo association? Illinois law stops associations from banning rooftop solar. See Illinois HOA solar rules. For timing, see how long solar installation takes.
How much could solar save your Barrington home?
Get an instant solar estimate for your Barrington home: enter your bill to see a system size, cost after incentives and payback.
Your estimate
- System size
- 8.0 kW
- about 20 panels
- Yearly production
- 9,520 kWh
- vs. about 9,529 kWh used
- First-year savings
- $1,285
- about $107/month
- Payback
- 8.5 years
- $43,800 saved over 25 years
| Estimated cost before incentives | $24,800 |
|---|---|
| ComEd solar rebate | −$2,400 |
| Illinois Shines REC valueUsually paid to your installer and passed on as a lower price. | −$11,500 |
| Estimated net cost | $10,900 |
Planning estimate only, not a quote. Assumes a south-facing roof, cash purchase and half of production used at home. Real numbers depend on your roof, equipment, rate plan and current program prices. How we estimate
Illinois incentives that still apply in 2026
$300/kW utility rebate
ComEd pay a one-time rebate of about $300 per kW for new systems with a smart inverter, around $2,100 on a 7 kW system.
Learn more →Illinois Shines
The state buys the renewable energy credits your panels create. Installers usually pass that value to you as a lower price.
Learn more →Net metering credits
Power you send back to the grid still earns bill credits. New systems are credited at the supply rate.
Learn more →$0-down options
With the federal homeowner credit gone, leases and PPAs can still pass along a business tax credit as a lower rate.
Learn more →
Program details last reviewed October 2026. Rules and amounts change, so confirm current terms with your installer.
How it works
- 1
Enter your ZIP
We confirm your home is in Illinois and which utility serves it.
- 2
Answer a few questions
Your typical electric bill, your roof and how you'd like to pay. It takes about two minutes.
- 3
Talk to a local specialist
An Illinois installer models your real savings, including Illinois Shines and your utility rebate. You decide what happens next.
Where else near Barrington can you get solar quotes?
What should Barrington homeowners know before going solar?
- Illinois solar incentives in 2026
Every Illinois solar incentive left in 2026: the ComEd and Ameren rebate, Illinois Shines, Solar for All, the property tax rule and what's left federally.
- How net metering works in Illinois now
How net metering works for new solar systems in ComEd and Ameren territory since 2025: supply-only credits, the $300/kW rebate, and how to size your system.
- Illinois Shines, explained
Illinois Shines pays for the renewable energy credits your solar panels create. Learn how the incentive works, who gets paid and how it lowers your price.
- The federal solar tax credit in 2026
The 30% federal residential solar credit ended after 2025. What that means for Illinois homeowners, and how leases and PPAs still capture federal value.
- Solar lease vs. buying in Illinois
Compare buying, financing, leasing and PPAs for solar in Illinois now that the federal homeowner credit is gone, and see who each option suits best.
- Is solar worth it in Illinois?
What solar panels cost in Illinois, what drives your savings with ComEd or Ameren, and how to tell if your home is a good fit in 2026.
- How much ComEd and Ameren pay for your excess solar
What ComEd and Ameren Illinois credit you in 2026 for solar power sent back to the grid, why it's below your retail rate, and how to get the most from it.
- Can an HOA ban solar panels in Illinois?
Illinois law stops HOAs and condo associations from banning rooftop solar. What your association can and can't require, and how to get approval.
- Do solar panels raise property taxes in Illinois?
Is there an Illinois solar property tax exemption? Solar homes are valued as if they had a conventional energy system, so panels shouldn't raise assessments.
- Illinois solar battery rebate and whether a battery is worth it
ComEd and Ameren pay a battery storage rebate of about $300 per kWh. Who qualifies, the time-of-use requirement, and when a battery makes sense with solar.
- How long does it take to go solar in Illinois?
From first quote to permission to operate: how long each step of a residential solar project takes with ComEd or Ameren, and what can slow it down.
- Community solar in Illinois: how it works and what it saves
Community solar lets ComEd and Ameren customers save without roof panels. How Illinois subscriptions work, typical savings, and what to check before signing.
- How to spot solar scams and pushy sales in Illinois
How to spot misleading solar sales pitches in Illinois, the protections Illinois Shines and federal law give you, and how to cancel or file a complaint.
- Should you replace your roof before going solar?
When to replace your roof before installing solar in Illinois, what removing and reinstalling panels later involves, and how to plan both projects together.
- Adding solar for an EV or heat pump in Illinois
How much extra solar an electric car or heat pump needs in Illinois, how ComEd and Ameren time-based rates fit in, and how to size for the added load.
- ComEd vs. Ameren Illinois: how solar compares
How going solar differs between ComEd and Ameren Illinois territory: rebates, export credits, Illinois Shines prices, sunshine, time-based rates and payback.
- Solar in Illinois winters: snow, hail and upkeep
How solar panels handle Illinois snow, cold and hail, how much they produce in winter, whether to clear snow, and the little maintenance they need.
- Solar loans in Illinois: cash, financing and dealer fees
How solar loans work in Illinois now the federal credit is gone, what dealer fees add to the price, and how to compare a low-rate loan with paying cash.
- Selling a house with solar panels in Illinois
Selling an Illinois home with solar: the value of owned systems, paying off or transferring a loan or lease, and clearing filings before closing.
- How many solar panels does an Illinois home need?
How many solar panels an Illinois home needs based on its electric bill, with sizing tables for ComEd and Ameren homes and the roof space each system takes.
- Does solar work during a power outage?
Why most Illinois solar systems shut off when the grid goes down, how batteries and backup-ready inverters keep power on, and how much backup you need.
- Solar warranties: what's covered and for how long
The four warranties behind an Illinois solar system, typical lengths for panels, inverters, batteries and workmanship, and what to check in a quote.
- How long do solar panels last?
How long solar panels last, how much output they lose each year, when inverters need replacing, and what that means for long-term savings on an Illinois home.
- Ground-mount vs. roof-mount solar in Illinois
When a ground-mounted array makes sense for an Illinois home, how it compares with rooftop solar on cost and output, and the zoning rules to check first.
- Solar with ComEd Hourly Pricing or Ameren Power Smart Pricing
How ComEd Hourly Pricing and Ameren Power Smart Pricing work for Illinois homes with solar, who saves, the price-spike risk, and the battery rebate tie-in.
- Is now a good time to go solar in Illinois?
What changed for Illinois solar in 2025 and 2026, from net metering and the federal credit to Illinois Shines and the new energy law, and whether to wait.
Barrington solar FAQ
Who is the electric utility in Barrington, IL?
Most homes in Barrington are served by Commonwealth Edison (ComEd). Some addresses near town edges may be on a municipal utility or electric co-op, so check the name on your bill.
Are there solar rebates in Barrington?
Yes. ComEd customers in Barrington can get a one-time rebate of about $300 per kW for new solar systems with a smart inverter, around $2,100 for a 7 kW system, plus Illinois Shines incentives.
How much do solar panels cost in Barrington?
For a home with a $150 monthly bill, we estimate a 8.0 kW system at about $24,800 before incentives, or about $10,900 after the ComEd rebate and Illinois Shines. Leases or PPAs can bring upfront cost to $0. Try the solar savings calculator, or get a free quote for real numbers on your Barrington home.
How much electricity do solar panels produce in Barrington?
About 1,190 kWh per year for each kW of panels on an unshaded, south-facing roof, so a 8.0 kW system would make roughly 9,520 kWh a year. Shade, roof direction and pitch can lower that.
Do I need a permit for solar in Barrington?
Yes. Rooftop solar needs a building and electrical permit from your local building department (the city or Cook County), plus interconnection approval from ComEd. Your installer normally handles both.
How do I choose a solar company in Barrington?
Get two or three quotes from installers that are Illinois Shines approved vendors, and compare the price per watt, equipment, warranties and how each handles the ComEd rebate and Illinois Shines. Our solar quote checker flags high prices and other red flags, and our guide to spotting solar scams covers pushy sales tactics.
Get a free solar quote for your Barrington home
Free, no-obligation quote from a trusted Illinois solar partner.